Improvement in wagon-racks



C. E. ADAMSON.

Wagon-Rack.

No. 205,518. Patented July 2,1878.

INV'ENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

NVPETERS, FHQTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. a C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

CHARLES E. ADAMSON, OF HUMBOLDT, NEBRASKA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,518, dated July 2, 1878 application filed May 11, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. ADAMSON, of Humboldt, in the county of Richardson and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wagon-Racks, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of a part of my improved wagon-rack, showing the side racks in the vertical position. Fig.2 is an end View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same with the side racks and top end-gate removed. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same; Fig. 5 is a side view of the same with the side racks and bed removed. Fig. 6 is an end view of the same. Fig. 7 is an end view of the rack with the side racks lowered.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved wagon-rack, which shall be so constructed that it may be readily adjusted to adapt the wagon for use for carrying wood, stone, lumber, corn in the ear or shelled, all kinds of grain, thrashed or unthrashed, small stock, hay, stalks, &c., and which at the same time shall be simple in construction, strong, durable, inexpensive in manufacture, and easily adjusted for itsvarious uses.

A is the base-frame of the rack, which rests upon and is secured to the running-gears of the wagon. The base-frame A is formed of two side bars, five (more or less) cross-bars, and four corner-posts, framed to each other. To the upper sides of the cross-bars of the frame A is attached the bottom a.

As thus constructed, the rack is in suitable shape for drawing stone, lumber, wood, and similar loads.

B is the bed, consisting of two side boards and two end boards, which is placed upon the base-frame A, is kept from longitudinal move ment by blocks or strips 1) attached to its side boards, and which rests against the posts of the baseframe A. The rear end board I) is hinged at its lower corners to the lower rear corners of the side boards of the bed B, so that it may be turned down, as shown in Fig. 3, or taken out for convenience in loading and unloading small stock, 850. The end board b may be secured in place, when raised into a vertical position, by hooks or other suitable fastenin gs.

As thus constructed, the rack is in suitable form for transporting corn in the ear or shelled, and other grains, vegetables, and also for use as a wagon-bed, &c.

O are the side racks, the end posts of which extend down along the sides of the cornerposts of the base-frame A, and have pivots 0 attached to their inner sides, which rest in sockets 0 attached to the outer sides of the upper ends of the corner-posts of the baseframe A, so that the said racks may be turned into a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or into an inclined or horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 7.

To the lower ends of the end bars of the side frames 0 are hinged the ends of iron bars D, the other ends of which are hinged to a casting, E, attached to the center of the ends of the base-frame A. The iron bars D thus hold the side racks in place, both when adjusted in a vertical and in an inclined or horizontal position.

To the middle parts of the side racks O is attached the upper part of the central crossbar F. The cross-bar or post F is made in two parts, hinged to each other at or near the upper edge of the side boards of the rack-bed B. The lower part of the central post F is inserted in a large staple or keeper, G, attached to the side bars of the base-frame A, and the lower end of the said post is slotted to receive the ends of the rod H, which rod passes through the middle part of the said base-frame.

To the upper part of the central post F is hinged the upper end of a brace, I, which, when the side racks are turned down into an inclined or horizontal position, rest against staples or keepers, or other supports, attached to the lower part of the said central post'F, or to the base-frame A, so as to strengthen the said side racks against the downward pressure of the load placed upon them. The side racks are also strengthened by the braces J attached to them, and extending in a diagonal direction from the upper ends of the central posts F to the middle parts of the end crossbars of the said side racks, as shown in Fig. 1.

K are the top end-gates, the cross-bars of which extend downward so as to rest against the end boards of the rack-bed B, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The end-gates K are further strengthened by the iron brace-rods 70 which cross the said gates K diagonally, as shown in Fig..2.- To the upper corners of the end-gates K are attached hooks 70, which hook upon the upper corners of the side racks O, and thus fasten the said racks to each other in such a way that they cannot be spread apart by the outward pressure of the load.

To the under side of the end cross-bars and the ends of the side bars of the base-frame A are attached crossbars L, for supporting the corner-posts and holding the casting E.

By this construction, when the rack is in a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for carrying corn in the ear, small stock, and similar loadings, and when it is desired to lower the side racks into an inclined or horizontal position, the said side racks are raised, raising the central posts F out of their sockets G, so that the bars D can turn from a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, into an upright position, as shown in Fig. 7. The side racks are then lowered, bringing the pivots into the sockets 0 and allowing the central post F to drop back into its socket.

If desired, the lower part of the central post F may be allowed to remain in its socket when the side racks O are detached by withdrawing the pintle of the hinge that connected the parts of the said central posts F to each other.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination, with base A, having posts with sockets 0 and bed B, of the hinged rack 0, having end posts, pivots c, the bars D, hinged to a casting, E, the end slotted crossbar F in two parts, hinged together, the staple G, rod H, and pivoted braces I, as and for the purpose specified.

CHARLES ELSWORTH ADAMSON.

Witnesses:

D. D. BLOOM, J. M. NELsoN. 

